Making Big Waves in a Small Town

In the small town of Dickson, Tennessee, the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program® is being used in unique ways. David Cole, an officer with the Dickson Police Department, has been a life member of the National Rifle Association since 2012. He began his work with the Eddie Eagle program after some research on the NRA website and a quick call to Member Services, who led him in the right direction in getting the Eddie Eagle message to his community. Because he is a police officer, program materials for Eddie Eagle are completely free. What really caught his eye about Eddie was that the format was easy and “simple to understand, even for kids."

Cole shares Eddie’s message at community events. When asked what his favorite part of the program was he said that although he wasn’t much of a singer, “you can’t help singing or humming the Eddie Eagle GunSafe song.” At the events, Cole usually plays the video on a large TV loud enough for children to dance and sing along. “After playing the video over and over again, it kind of gets in your head.”  



The Dickson Police Department understands the urgency of Eddie’s message. “Guns do not hurt people by themselves. They are simply tools. They have no heart nor a soul. The guns sit there and do nothing until someone picks it up. So this message is important because children generally do not have the training to handle a firearm.”

As for the community of Dickson, the feedback on the program has been positive. Although there are some in the community who don’t feel the program is needed, Cole has been cautiously adamant to explain, “It is better to teach them now, early, while they can still learn a valuable lesson without anyone getting hurt”.

The Dickson Police Department recently added Eddie Eagle’s GunSafe message to their website, and continues to find new ways to reach children in the community.

Thank you to Officer Cole and the Dickson Police Department for their continued support in spreading the Eddie Eagle GunSafe message!


Want to learn more about the Eddie Eagle GunSafe program? Click here for more information and learn how to bring the program to your community.